Is faith intellectual nonsense?

Question

Please discuss the question rather than just comment.

Answer 1

It depends on what one has faith in. If it's faith in things that are impossible to explore the validity of, then yeah, I think it's kind of pointless.

However, if it's faith about things that those wiser than you have said, like "Love your neighbors as you love yourself." or "Refrain from speaking ill of others," then, no - those sorts of things eventually show themselves to you as true or not over the course of your life.

Buddhists don't have dogma in the same sense that other religions do, but we do take the teachings of the Buddha on faith - and we spend our lives exploring those teachings to see if they fit in with reality or not.

Answer 2

Hiya

Would we know the difference? All ones thoughts on belief systems and faith etc are individually born or collectively pursued. Whosto judge what is and isnt nonsense.

Any belief other than your own can appear nonsense to you, but equally yours may appear nonsense to someone else for the same reason

Given that, we cannot define nonsense per se, because we all believe in nonsense according to every opposing faith or religion. What therefore is the one true way. The answer must be everything is, irrespective of how it is framed or worshipped, because here we are on a small ball in the middle of nowhere spinning at 25,000 MPH held up by nothing - now that to most people would seem like nonsense, but it's happening.

Answer 3

It is a rather ambiguous question. On one hand, we might be asking whether faith is intellectual but nonsensical; on the other, we might be asking whether faith is nonsense within the scope of intellectualism.

These two interpretations are, curiously enough, directly opposing in their assertion of the nature of faith, for if we are to say "No" we may be asserting that it is not intellectual but also that it is not nonsensical within the scope of intellectualism (and therefore is intellectual), and if we say "Yes" we could be asserting that it is intellectual nonsense but also that it is nonsensical intellectually.

It is a charged question, and I can only respond with an almighty "Mu".

Answer 4

I think that faith isn't just intellectual nonsense, as for me it is something I have found deep within myself, not just my mind. Faith for me is more than a thought, its a feeling, a knowing its ingrained deep in my soul. My faith has came not through intellectual ways, but through life experience, knowing that things do and will happen for a reason, and no matter what happens theres always a light at the end of the tunnel. Without my faith I'd feel empty and not so 'alive'.

Answer 5

Faith(in a god) is a crutch. In an uncertain world it can be a great emotional help to those who think they need it.
That is not necessarily a bad thing as long as they don't rely on it excessively or obsessively.
My personal opinion is that religion causes more problems than it solves, and I find it hard to understand how people can still believe the teaching that one day the messiah will come.
Most religions are over 2000 years old and he still hasn't showed up despite all the horrors and atrocities committed in his name with the blessing of those who preach his message(the manipulative intellectuals).
So, to finally answer your question,faith is an intellectual con used by those who wish to exert control, by the promise of eternal happiness in heaven, or damnation in hell, but as an anodyne it does what's required.

Answer 6

Do you have faith that when you put your money in to the bank that it will be there when you go to get it out? That is faith, faith in the bank that it will not fail you.

What about at night when you go to sleep, you have faith that the next morning you will wake up. But even that is not a guarantee.

When you drive across a bridge, you have faith that it will hold you up.

There are many different things that we have faith in, we just seem to question the ones of God over the ones of man. However the ones of man have always let us down.

So why is it easier to question the ones of God and not even be concerned with the ones that always leave us broke, hungry, naked and dead.

Here is what we should really question.

Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 7

Yes very often it is in that each faith takes the parts that suit it and indoctinises where possible. The example given by those pretending to be devout in any given religion are sometimes suspect.....they are hiding behind the man made rules and bening to suit thier purpose. God on the other hand is bigger than any organized religion. I do wonder sometimes how he might answer such a question....imagine a few who think they are the ritious may be surprised.

Answer 8

Not at all. There is really very little that we know with absolute certainty. Therefore, without some measure of faith in everything (especially interpersonal relationships), we would be unable to function.

On the contrary, to claim that faith is somehow irrational or runs counter to intelligence is baseless.

Answer 9

It seems to me that faith has nothing to do with intellect. In fact, faith claims to be outside intellect (or even to overrule intellect). Whatever - faith refuses to be measured with the standards of intellect. So be it. You might call faith non-intellect then (in order to avoid the word nonsense which could be considered disrespectful).

Answer 10

Not at all we have to have faith, it might just be in ourselves, but we need it more than most know, how many of us lose that faith, before we turn to God, do we have faith in others, can we trust others having been lied to for so many years